Awakening

Man, I feel like it's been forever since I posted last....and I really think I say that every time I post.

Lets set Student Life aside on this one.

So, slowly but surely I have been going through the book of Acts. I've been learning what the first churches were like and what the apostles/disciples did after Jesus' death. For some reason for the past 3-4 days I have been hung up on chapter 2. If you read it, you may understand why. It's frustrating to get caught up in but joyful at the same time. I can feel myself digging for the understanding. Aching to know what God is trying to tell me. Desiring to know how the Holy Spirit works every time it is mentioned in this chapter.

It started with the whole speaking in tongues thing. But the beginning of this chapter has brought maybe...a change of heart? For some reason I really think that possibly everyone has there own "language" with God. Not like "blah howp glahboo pa" speaking in tongues stuff, but the type of language where you speak to God and God speaks to you in one specific way that may be stronger than others? I'm confused by that myself. For instance...some people communicate with God through his creation. God may speak to them through His creations and that person may speak to God through their joy and admiration of that creation. Or through things like, music, watching other people, being still, screaming to the top of their lungs, singing, dancing, acting, running/walking. Whatever it may be, I feel like everyone has some different type of strong line of communication with God. Then there's the real speaking in tongues. That maybe through the power of the Holy Spirit you can share the gospel with someone who speaks a different language than you, but they still understand it and hear it in their own language. I have no idea.

I got caught up and really excited on Acts 2:40 "And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." ....People wonder why the world is so messed up, why things are unfair, and why so much nonsense occurs. But they just sit back and take it on because they feel like thats just the way the world works. No, we are told to save ourselves [through Christ] FROM this crooked generation. Like, don't just be a part of the generation or let it really affect you. Save yourself from it. Blatantly, the Bible is calling us to salvation. AGH! Why don't people get it?

And the last thing that really spoke out to me, which was my prayer after reading this was verses 42-47 under the title, "The Fellowship of the Believers". It's talking about the way christians act. Ironic, no. It explains the way the disciples acted and lived, and how that left people in awe. They didn't get it. However their lifestyle and the joy that the Holy Spirit gave them confused people. But better than that, it made people come to Christ. It added to God's numbers. It created believers. I just pray that my way of life and the words I speak, and the moves I make will leave people in awe. Not leave people in awe of me. But leave people confused, blank, aloof, dumbfounded. Leaving them empty so that they may approach me to ask me what I am filled with. Is it a "new wine" or something else. That something else, my friend, is the Holy Spirit. And then, may one accept Christ because of Christ in me.

PTL.

Teach the Teacher

So, it's been a week since I have updated. And a lot has happened in that one week.

I was blessed enough to be able to lead a Family Group with Kaitlyn this past week and it was awesome. It was the first time that I was actually able to interact with the campers on a regular basis and hear what is going on in their lives. I think at the same time it reminded me but also made me realize once again why we put on these camps. There is so much going on in the students lives that we have no idea about, and our ultimate goal is to help them know Christ. I just want to ask everyone to pray for the students that were in my family group this past week.

As for myself I really learned a lot. Once again God put it in front of my face that we, as the body, are His hands and feet. We only assist in His ministry and plant seeds, and Christ is the savior. There is nothing we can do to make people accept Christ. We are only assisting God in what He is doing in other's lives. Therefore, we must understand that God is the one who saves, not us.

I also really learned that I must be confident in teaching and ministering to others. God is my rock and support through it all therefore I have nothing to worry about. This week I felt really burdened that I missed it and didn't explain a few of the studies right. But as the week progressed God really showed me that yes I was doing it right and that He was working through me.

Last but, definitely not least, I was reminded once again that God works through many for the same purpose. Whether it be the flow of different scriptures being brought to a student, the repetition of prayers or words being said, or whatever else.... "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Rushed, I know, but I gotta go. There is no telling what I will learn this week but I'm extremely excited to see what God has in store for this week.